Spring bulbs. Dig now or later?

Spring bulbs in north central Indiana have lost their blooms and beginning to lose foliage color. They can start to look pretty ratty in the garden. Do yours need division?

A friend asked me today when she was supposed to dig her tulip bulbs for division and replanting. I'm sure we all believe we should dig them, dry them, store them, and replant them in the fall.

But.......we do not have to follow that regimen. To be certain I offered her correct information I checked myself with an old reference source sitting in our gardening/nursery book case. I see it was copyrighted in 1965 and we purchased it in 1966, 43 years ago. The Rockwells' Complete Guide to Successful Gardening by Fredrick Rockwell and Esther Grayson. It is still accurate.

I told my friend that she can dig them now if the foliage has "ripened" or lost its color. It's good to do it now while you can easily identify the bulb. Dig them, separate them, and replant them where you want them.

Be certain to replant them to the correct depth. If it should be planted to a depth of 6 inches, that means to measure from the top of the bulb to the surface. One way to achieve that depth is to place a the long handle of a tool (or a long wooden spoon) over the hole and stick a ruler into the hole to measure from the top of the bulb to the surface. A bulb planter is helpful because it has measurements on it.

Here is what my reference says:

"After being dug, the bulbs are dried off, preferably in a cool place under cover, spread out in flats so that air can reach them freely. After drying, store in bags or boxes, away from direct sunshine, and safe from rodents, until time for replanting in autumn. Daffodils being poisonous, are safe from the attacks of rodents. As they start new root growth early it is quite all right to replant these as soon as they have been pulled apart, if this is more convenient than to dry and store them." p. 199

If it's time for division of bulbs in your garden, I hope this helps.